Last Run on Venus

"Last Run on Venus" by James McKimmey Jr. is a science fiction tale set on a vibrant Venus where human colonists grapple with ethical challenges. The story centers on Nicholas Caine, a pilot planning his final mission over the restricted Purple Plateau accompanied by two thrill-seeking tourists whose recklessness catapults them into a desperate fight for survival when they crash. The destruction of their aircraft strands them in hostile territory and intensifies their relationships, particularly as Caine battles not just the dangers of the alien landscape, but also his growing feelings, forcing him to confront his past decisions and the wider impacts of colonial ambition and human avarice.